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Monthly Archives: June 2019

Sleep Tight

You’ve all heard the saying, “sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite”! There are multiple origin theories around the rhyme, specifically the “sleep tight” portion and its relation to bed bugs. One theory in particular suggests that it is referring to the way beds were made during the 16th and 17th centuries. Before the introduction of spring mattresses, mattresses where stuffed with coarse materials such as straw or feathers and sat on a latticework of ropes. Since it was necessary to tighten the ropes regularly to prevent the bed from sagging, many have suggested this is where the phrase “sleep tight” originates. Tightening the ropes would both allow for a good night’s sleep and keep the mattress off the ground to potentially avoid bedbugs. However, humans have been combating bed bugs even earlier than the 16th century!

Fossils and ancient texts have shown us that bedbugs have existed as far back as ancient Egypt and Rome. The colonization and industrialization of North America lead to their worldwide dominance, until extremely harmful pesticides like DDT wiped out most of them in the mid-20th century.

Nowadays, however, these parasitic bugs are increasingly becoming a problem within residences of all kinds,  not just including homes. Apartments, hotels/motels, cruise ships, dormitories and shelters can all suffer from an infestation. The bugs transfer from an infested house to other houses on furniture, baggage, boxes, in suitcases, packed clothing, and bedding— especially when people travel frequently or change residences.

Physical Traits

They are small, reddish-brown, wingless insects that feed solely on the blood of warm-blooded animals. Bedbugs and their relatives have evolved as nest parasites. Hatchlings are the size of poppy seed, and adults are about ¼ of an inch in length. From above, they are oval in shape, but are flat from top to bottom. A pest control treatment is the only way to get rid of this infestation, and it usually takes 2-4 treatments.

Detecting an Infestation

Contrary to popular belief, bedbugs are not associated with filth or social class. Bedbugs will infest anywhere that blood meals are plentiful. There are a few different ways to detect whether your home has an active infestation. In heavily infested home or apartments, there will be an overpowering sweet smell, similar to the smell of ripe raspberries. Early on, bed bugs are found most commonly in the bed and bedroom area—hence their name. They hide in the folds and creases of the mattress. However, they can leave blood stains or smears on bedding, walls, and curtains. Later on in an infestation, they will seek to hide behind loose wallpaper, behind pictures, window/door casings, baseboards, and cracks in plaster.

The lifecycle of these bugs includes five stages, called instars, as they develop from nymph to adult. In order to transition to the next instar, the bug must have a blood meal. Because of this, bedbugs do bite which typically happens at night. They leave a flea-sized mark; which can become a large, red, inflamed oval or oblong accompanied by severe itching caused by an allergic reaction to their saliva. Depending on which instar they are in, bedbugs can survive anywhere from three months to one year without a meal. Once a host is found, the bugs will feed for only a few minutes. They become engorged,  and then return to their hiding place for several days in order to completely digest the meal.

How To Prevent Bed Bugs

You can prevent the spread of bed bug infestations by taking some precautionary steps when traveling, moving, or staying away from home.

  • Be sure when traveling to inspect mattresses of the room(s) you are staying in.
  • In hotels, be sure to keep clothes off the floor.
  • When returning from a trip, be sure to dry, not wash, all clothing on the hottest setting upon unpacking.

In order to provide you with the most effective service possible, we ask you review all the necessary steps listed prior to our arrival. Bedbugs take multiple treatments to properly eradicate, and all efforts will be lost if the proper protocol is not followed. If you believe to be experiencing problems associated with bedbugs, do not hesitate to give us a call. We have experience eradicating infestations in private homes, community centers, dormitories, and apartment buildings for over 25 years, and no job is too big or too small! Give us a call today.

 

Sources

Cohen, Jennie. “They’re Back: A Bed Bug History.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 31 Aug. 2010, www.history.com/news/theyre-back-a-bed-bug-history.

Potter, Michael F. “The History of Bed Bug Management—With Lessons From The Past.” American Entomologist, Vol. 57, no. 1, Spring 2011, pp. 14–25.

Star-Crossed Starlings

First brought to North America in the 19th century by Shakespeare enthusiasts, European starlings are now among the continent’s most plentiful birds. Their stocky, black bodies have short tails, triangular wings, and long, pointed bills. They are extremely resilient birds; they are strong fliers, eat a wide variety of foods, and are willing to use an array of places to nest and roost. This flexibility helps them thrive in both urban and rural areas such as cities and suburbs, as well as on farms. They are one of few bird species who are able to live in otherwise barren industrial wastelands. More than 200 million European starlings live between Alaska to Mexico today, and many consider them pests.

Starling Nests

Homeowners resent these birds for their abundance and aggressiveness; as they can be harmful toward other native bird species as well as causing quite a ruckus for humans. An invasive species, starlings are cavity nesters and can overtake structures in a very short period of time. Even just a pair of starlings can be a force to be reckoned with. They build gigantic nests that require professional clean-up. They enjoy nesting inside attics, dryer vents, soffits, fan vents in bathrooms, and other areas that are accessible to them. Starlings will enter attics via abandoned holes made by woodpeckers and other pests.

When starlings nest in larger spaces such as attics, they do not seek out a particular spot to build the nest; they overtake the entire space. These nests can lead to health problems for humans due to their excrement. Even when starlings decide to nest in confined spaces such as a dryer vents, they will still make a mess. Oftentimes homeowners will hear a starling in their dryer vent, chimney, or attic and assume it is another pest, such as a squirrel.

Associated Problems

Starlings are quite the impressionists; they are able to learn the calls of at least 20 different species, often including (but not limited to) the Eastern Wood-Pewee, Killdeer, meadowlarks, Northern Bobwhite, Wood Thrush, Red-tailed Hawk, American Robin, and Northern Flicker. They are known for being aggressive toward and overtaking the nests of other bird species. Male starlings are especially aggressive in their search for nest sites— They will peck holes in the eggs of other birds, throw out their nesting material, and kill their young. Starlings will also build their nests on top of occupied nests containing eggs, and can even evict birds as large as ducks!

In addition, female starlings will attempt to lay eggs in the nests of other females. This is a common tactic used by those without mates— as the longer it takes to get nest started is directly related to the probability of the its success. Most starlings breed and start laying early. They have been known to dive-bomb anything that goes near the nests, including humans and other animals, to protect their young.

Controlling Starlings

Starlings are one of three species of birds not under the protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This means they have an open season year-round; where other birds have a specific hunting season, or no season at all. If you find a nest, keep in mind federal law allows you to remove starling and house sparrow eggs; however, it is illegal to remove the nests or eggs of all other birds, so proper identification is key. It is best to refer to a licensed wildlife professional when dealing with and handling birds and their nesting material.

The key to starling eradication is complete removal and clean-up of the nest, but also exclusion of the entrances as well. During the eradication process it is extremely important to not only remove the birds, but their their nesting materials as well. The nests can create fire hazards and/or block off ventilation to the home, restricting how the home retains heat in the winter. Their fecal matter is hazardous to human health, so it is imperative to leave their nesting material untouched.

Starling droppings, like those of many other bird species, can contain the histoplasmosis fungus. Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by breathing in spores of a fungus often found in bird and bat droppings. The infection transmits to humans when the spores become airborne, typically during cleanup or demolition. Histoplasmosis can lead to flu-like symptoms and in some cases death. Those who have underlying lung diseases, such as COPD, may develop a chronic histoplasmosis as a result. This is why it is important for professionals to properly and safely handle the nests and birds themselves.

If you believe you have a starling infestation, call a licensed wildlife professional. There will need to be not only removal, but exclusion work and clean-up involved in the entire eradication process. Hogarth’s specializes in full-service starling eradication, so please give us a call today!

 

Sources

“European Starling.” All About Birds: European Starling, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2018, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling

“Histoplasmosis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 27 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/histoplasmosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20373495.

“What To Do About Starlings.” Wild Neighbors, The Humane Society of the United States, 2017, www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-starlings.

What’s That Smell?

Have you ever noticed tiny ants congregating on a droplet of melted ice cream that has fallen to the ground? Those tiny ants are known as ‘sweet ants’ or ‘sugar ants’ because their affinity for all things saccharine. The technical name for these ants is the ‘odorous house’ ant, and they are most commonly found in the kitchen snacking on sugary substances. These ants won’t cause any damage to the home, unlike carpenter ants and acrobats ants, but they are a nuisance insect that licensed pest control professionals can eradicate.

How To Identify

The odorous house ant does not get its name from a foul smell, per se. For instance, if you have discovered a trail of ants in your home, you will not notice any odor emitted. To an untrained eye, the species of ant does not have any physical traits that set them apart from others right away.  They do look similar to pavement ants, but their bodies only have one node as opposed to two. Due to their size, this can be difficult to distinguish at first glance.

To properly identify an odorous house ant (this is actually something we pest control professionals always do), you can crush one between your thumb and index finger. If the crushed ant smells like coconut, then you know for certain that it is an odorous house ant! You read that right, the odorous house ants smell shockingly similar to rotting coconuts. This scent is actually a chemical compound that is very similar to those emitted by rotting food— more specifically, the penicillin mold that causes food to rot.

Diet

Odorous house ants particularly enjoy carbohydrate-rich materials, such as plant nectar, honeydew from aphids, and sweet human foods.  As a result, these ants tend to invite themselves to picnics and into kitchens.  However, their saccharine-loving ways can also lead them to their demise; in most cases, odorous house ants respond well to sugar-based baits if they do find their way in to your kitchen.

Odorous house ant will essentially nest anywhere. They create large colonies that usually split into sub-colonies, often making them difficult to control and eliminate.  If you notice odorous house ants in your home, it is important that you do not attempt to self-treat. Many store-bought products will simply deter the ants, which forces them to take an alternative route. This only displaces the ants rather than eliminating them.

Many forms of self-treating often affect large quantities of ants at once; however, they do not affect the rest of the ants living in the colony. If your DIY fast-acting spray kills the first, unsuspecting victims that it touches, the other ants will take notice to the spike in mortality rate and re-route to a new food source. This food source will always be near water; in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

Takeaway Tips:

  • To identify an odorous house ant, squash the ant between your fingers; it should smell like coconut.
  • We advise that customers DO NOT attempt to spray or treat odorous house ants with store-bought products. Spraying will cause budding and make the problem much worse and harder to deal with.

The key to eliminating an odorous house ant colony is a professional pest control treatment. If you have been noticing ants inside of your home, don’t hesitate to reach out. We have been eliminating issues with these ants for 25 years, so give us a call today!

Sources

Liesch, P. “Identifying Insects by Smell, Part 2: Odorous House Ants.” Insect Diagnostic Lab, UW Madison Department of Entomology, 24 Apr. 2019, labs.russell.wisc.edu/insectlab/2019/04/24/identifying-insects-by-smell-part-2-odorous-house-ants/.

Yield to Yellowjackets

The yellowjacket, or yellow jacket, refers to several species of North American predatory wasps. These wasps are aptly named based on their appearance black with yellow legs, and a yellow “jacket” on their thorax. Commonly mistaken as bees, yellowjackets are extremely aggressive and should be left alone and dealt with by a professional at all times.

Threats of Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets pose as a threat for an array of individuals. They cause trouble for lawn maintenance professionals because they can disturb a nest by weed whipping or mowing. Roofers also have a tough time with them when they have decided to nest in the attic, and homeowners may notice them nesting under siding or windows. Yellowjackets also pose a threat for both pets and unsuspecting humans, whether indoors or out; sometimes, they make their way inside the home and become aggressive trying to find their way out. All these situations can be extremely dangerous and even deadly.

These wasps cause fatalities every summer in Northern Michigan; even if you are not specifically allergic to these wasps, the venom from their sting can still be fatal—, especially if swarmed by multiple. Their stingers, unlike other stinging insects, are not barbed; thus allowing them the ability to sting repeatedly. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include swelling of the face, mouth, and/or throat with the eventual inability to breathe (anaphylaxis). Other equally serious symptoms may also manifest, such as vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and loss of motor function.

The most common way to encounter these wasps is by stumbling upon a nest. These nests are easy to identify by their papery appearance, a substance made from chewed cellulose. The nests are near or on trees, bushes, and the eaves of houses. Some species of yellow jackets build their nests in the ground, making them easy targets for unsuspecting walkers. This event not only affects humans but animals as well.

Dogs and Yellowjackets

Dogs, curious by nature, tend to encounter these wasps most. Unsuspecting dogs are often stung on the face or in the mouth. This usually results in a yelp, followed by pawing at the muzzle or other affected areas. Other signs can range from mild to severe, depending on the location of the sting, the amount of stings, and whether the dog has an allergy to the venom. Typically, the dog will experience slight swelling and/or redness of the affected area. These side effects will subside within hours to a day.

In more serious instances, a potentially deadly reaction can occur from 10-30 minutes. These symptoms include the swelling of the eyes and face, which can lead to difficulty breathing.  Other symptoms may also manifest, such as drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and collapsing.

Tips for keeping Yellowjackets away:

  1. Keep trash cans covered
  2. Make sure all doors and windows have screens
  3. Avoid wearing sweet-smelling perfume
  4. Caulk and seal small holes around the home
  5. Work with licensed pest control professionals to eradicate an existing issue

Make sure all of the outdoor areas near your home are free of garbage, including empty cans. Like many other flying insects, adult yellow jackets will feed on picnic fare, fruits, the nectar of flowers, and the occasional soda or beer when they find an open can. However, something that makes yellow jackets unique is their carnivorous diet. In the larval stage, yellow jackets will feast on meat from other insects, such as flies and bees, foraged by worker wasps. These wasps will search for food up to 1 mile from their nest!

While most homeowners consider yellow jackets a pest, their unique diet actually makes them an important part of garden pest control. Gardens are chock full of all the insects for yellow jacket larvae to feed on. However, this makes them a seasonal pest as food supplies dwindle throughout the year. Yellowjacket queens are the only survivors during the winter months, as they will live to create a new colony in the spring.

“I found a nest”

Common places for a nest are attached to bushes, trees, or the eaves of homes. Yellowjacket nests are built with a recognizable paper-like material made from chewed cellulose.  If you believe to have come across a yellow jacket nest, stop! Contact a licensed pest control professional to properly move the nest as soon as possible. It is important to steer clear from these wasps at all costs because they are quick to attack, one may develop a hypersensitivity to their venom after being stung. This makes the threat of a future encounter even greater.

Yellowjackets and other beings are able to live harmoniously so long as the wasps get the respect they deserve. They do not seek out humans or animals to sting, and only do it as a means to protect themselves. Yellowjackets can be controlled and we work with them every day. If you are experiencing issues with yellow jackets near your home, do not hesitate to give us a call today! 

 

Sources

“Animal Facts: Yellow Jacket.” NatureMapping Foundation, Washington NatureMapping Program, 01 June 2019, naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/yellow_jacket_712.html.

“Dog Stung by a Bee? Here’s What You Should Know.” Taste of the Wild, Taste of the Wild Pet Food, 23 May 2017, www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/health/dog-bee-sting/.

“Everything You Need to Know About Yellowjackets.” www.PestWorld.org , PestWorld, 02 June 2019, www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-yellowjackets/.